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Narrative of Services in the Liberation of Chili, Peru and Brazil, - from Spanish and Portuguese Domination, Volume 1 by Thomas Cochrane Earl of Dundonald
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place of forming the _nucleus_--as they afterwards did--of a force
which, after my departure from Chili, threatened not only the
independence of Peru, but even that of the Chilian Republic itself.

Being thus unopposed, and the towns which had given in their adhesion to
the cause of independence being left defenceless--the retreating
Spaniards committed great excesses amongst the inhabitants of the
interior, who found themselves exposed to more than the rigours of
martial law, without the least attempt for their protection; though a
promise of this had formed one of the principal inducements for
throwing off their allegiance to the Viceroy, at whose mercy--or rather
want of it--they now found themselves exposed.

In place of protecting the Peruvians in the interior, a number of highly
inflated proclamations were issued, in which it was left to be inferred
that the city had been taken by hard fighting, though not a blow had
been struck, except by the detachment of Colonel Arenales and the
squadron, whose vigilance of blockade and previous actions had so
dispirited the enemy and reduced them to such straits, that abandonment
of the capital was inevitable. Nor was the large force present even
required to maintain Lima, the inhabitants having for a long period been
subjected to miseries which they had no disposition to re-encounter.

But General San Martin had other views in retaining the army than
protecting those who had confided in his promises; the military force
being required for very different purposes to that which had been set
forth in his proclamations and in those entrusted to him by the Chilian
government.

On the 24th I ordered Captain Crosbie to proceed to Callao in the boats,
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